Machine for making concrete blocks



I T. E. HOENEMANN. MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

AiPLlCATIQN FILED JULY 6. I920.

. Patented Nov. 29,1921.

T. E. HOENEMANN.

MACHINEFOR MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS- APPLICATION HLED JULY 6. 920.

1,398,898. Patented Nov. 29, 1921.

, 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. J9 J9 r31 W QAQ TEN FFEQSEQ THEODOR E. HOENEMANN, 013 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO D'URA CON- STRUCTION COMPANY, OE BUSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A COBPGRATION OF MAESSA- CHUSETTS.

MACHINE FQR MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 29, 11921.

Application filed. July 6, 1920. Serial No. 394,074.

T 0 all to 7mm it may c0nccrn Be it known that I, THEODOR E. Homin- MANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, inthe county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Making Concrete Blocks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to machines for making blocks, slabs and various other products from concrete.

The main object of my invention is the provision of a machine adapted to produce concrete blocks of various forms and sizes with comparative rapidity and at a low cost for labor.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means in the machine whereby it may be quickly and easily adjusted for products of a wide range of form and size.

A further object of theinvention is to secure a product of uniform density and structure having one or more finished surfaces.

Other objects of the invention will be more specifically set forth and described hereinafter.

One of the important features of my invention is the provision of a form for mold ing the concrete blocks, slabs or other products, which is so constructed as to be capable of adjustment through a wide range of producing products of varying size and form, and which is also capable of producing a plurality of products of the same size and form or of varying sizes and forms in one operation of the machine.

Another important feature resides in the means provided for compressing the con crete mixture whereby a uinform density,-

free from seams and holes, is secured throughout the product, without requiring the concrete mixture to be tampe'd or pounded, thereby eifecting an economy in time. At the same time, the compressing means are so formed as to be capable of be ing utilized, when desired, for finishing the top surface of the product during the compressing operation.

Yet another important feature relates to the means provided for separating the form from the molded product, in order to permit the blocks, after being molded, to be immediately removed from the machine and set aside to dry.

In its preferred form my invention contemplates a machinehavin'g an adjustable form, open at the top, and made up of side walls or side pieces movable to and from each other, to vary the size of the product, end and intermediate walls or partitions of suitable size adapted to be arranged between said side walls after the latter are adjusted in position, and a palette of suitable size mounted on a fixed support which serves as the bottom of the form. The side and end walls are movable vertically with relation to the palette in order to regulate the depth of the blocks andto permit the form to be dropped after the products are molded, so that the palette with the finished block or blocks thereon, may be removed from the machine and set aside to permit the blocks to cure. F or compressing the concrete mixture into the form, a pressure roll mounted in suitable carriers is arranged to be rolled over the top of the form to press the heaped up concrete into the form, and means are provided for rotating the pressure roll as it is moved over the form so that its pressing surface slides over the concrete mixture while moving forward and pressing it down into the form and thereby smooths off and gives a finish to the top surface of the block. In the drawings illustrating one embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of one end of a machine constructed and operated in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view of the form showing a part of the supporting means for the form and the pressing means in elevation; Fig- 3 is a plan view of the form on a reduced scale; and Fig. t is a longitudinal sectional view of the form and supporting means.

In the drawings illustrating my invention there is shown a machine comprising a suit able frame adapted to support a removable palette which constitutes the bottom of the mold, an adjustable form surrounding said palette within which the concrete is compressed, said form being vertically movable with relation to the palette to permit the former to be dropped to allow the removal of the palette with the molded product thereon and compressing and finishing mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, 5 indicates a long, narrow plate or table which extends the entire length of the machine and which may The adjustable form comprises two mov-- able vertical side-plates 12 extending the length of the machine, with end-plates 13 and intermediate plates 14; all of which,

with the palette 10, makes up acomplete form open at the top. The side-plates are movable to and from each other to vary the width of the product and consequently end and intermediate plates and palettes of different widths must be provided to correspond to the distance between the side-plates. The side-plates are held in tight engagement with the end-plates by suitable bolts 15 and the end and intermediate plates may be secured against displacement by pins 16 passing through the side pieces. For supporting the side-plates 12 two suitable brackets are provided, one at each end of the machine; each bracket comp 'ising a horizontal cross'piece 17, upon which the side-plates rest in perpendicular position, a vertical rack-bar 1S and braces 19 connecting the two.

The side-plates 12 and end-plates 13 are moved vertically by moving the two brackets through the following means. Outside of each of the foregoing brackets is arranged a frame composed of two vertical pieces 2() right-angled in cross-section and connected together by a cross-bar 21 and a base-bar 22. Each frame is connected at its base to the footpieces 8 and is thus fixed in position. The cross-piece 17 of each bracket supporting the side-plates 12 is arranged within the angles of the vertical pieces 20 and the brackets are thereby prevented from tipping to one side or the other and are maintained in a horizontal position. Each frame is provided with a vertical rack-bar 23 secured to the cross-bar 21 and base-bar 22 and a pinion 24 is arranged in mesh with said rack-bar 23 and rack-bar 18, the two pinions at the two ends of the machine being mounted on and fastened to a shaft 25 upon the ends of which are mounted levers 26. Each rack-bar 18 is backed up by a bar 27 fastened to cross-bar 21 and base-bar 22 and by operating the le vers 26 at the two ends of the machine, the brackets supporting the form and the form may be lowered or raised with relation to the table 5 and palette 10. The bars 27 on the two ends of the machine may each be provided with a series of holes 28 to receive a pin 29 which serves as a stop to be engaged by the lower end of the rack-bar 18 and thereby hold the brackets and form'in any desired vertical position. i i

F or compressing the concrete within the form I provide a roller 30 mounted on a shaft 31 journaled at each end in a carrier 32; the two carriers being arranged one on each side of the form and each being in the form of a web arranged vertically with a plurality of bores to receive shafts. Upon each end of the shaft 31 is mounted a gear 35 and a handle 36 for turning the roll 30. Each gear 35 is in mesh with a second gear 38 mounted on a short shaft 39 journaled in the carrier and each gear 38 is also'in mesh with a. large gear 40 mounted on a shaft 41 journaled through the bottom of each carrier. On the inner end of each shaft 41 is secured a gear 43 in mesh with a rack formed on the outside face of each sideplate. The operation of the two handles 36 rotates the roll 30 and through the medium 0: the gears 35, 38 and 40 and shaft 41, gear 45 and rack 45 the carriers are caused to travel lengthwise the machine in the direction in which the handles are turned. The roll 30 is so mounted with respect to the formthat there is just clearance room between the surface of the roll and the top edges of the side-plates.

For holding the carriers in proper vertical adjustment so that the roll 30 is at all times close to the top edges of the form, the sideplates 12 are each provided with an outwardly extending longitudinal flange and each carrier 32 is provided with suitable rolls for engaging the top and under surfaces of the flange 50 thereby locking the carriers in vertical position with relation to the side-plates 12. A roll 52 rotatably mounted upon the inner face of each carrier engages the top surface of the flange 50, each roll having a flange 53 for engaging the outer edge of the flange 50. For engaging the under surface of said flange'50two rolls 54 are provided for each carrier; each pair of rolls 54 being mounted between and carried by two triangular plates 55 secured to the inner lower portion of each carrier. By means of these rolls 52 and 54 each carrier is fixed in vertical adjustment with relation to its respective side-plate and since there are three points of bearing, each carrier is prevented from tipping to one side or the other during the operation of the machine. This construction also insures the meshing of the gear 43 with the rack 45. v

For holding the two carriers 32 in fixed lateral adjustment a rod 58 is provided connecting the twocarriers, each end passing loosely through the top of one carrier and one or more set-screws 59 serve for looking each carrier was rod 58 after adjustlment. As shown in Fig. l-of the drawings,

the rod 58 and shafts 31, 39 and 41 are extended outwardly beyond the carriers to permit the side-plates 12 and the carriers 32 to be moved away from each other to secure a product of greater width and this lateral adjustment can be accomplished at any time by merely loosening the set-screws 59 and by moving each side-plate 12 and its respective carrier 32 into the required position after which the set-screws are again tightened.

For making blocks having a molded or designed face a face-plate 60 may be placed on the palette, as shown in Fig. 2, and the block formed above it, and for making hollow products, a core 62 may be arranged in the mold, as shown in the same figure, said core being preferably conical with an aperture 63 to permit the core to be removed from the block after the latter has been formed.

The foregoing is merely uggestive because an infinite variety of face-plates may be employed in connection with my machine for securing irregularly shaped products.

In the use of my machine, one or more palettes 10 of suitable length and width are placed upon the table 5 lengthwise of the machine. The two side-plates 12 arethen brought into engagement with the sides of the palette or palettes, the carriers 32 being moved in unison with the side-plates 12. The side-plates may then be adjusted in vertical position in order to regulate the depth of the form and of the product by operating simultaneously the levers 26 at the two ends of the machine. If the levers 26 (referring to Fig. 1) be turned upwardly the pinion 24: is revolved in the same direction, thereby causing it to move downwardly in relation to the rack-bar 23 and to carry rack-bar 18 and the bracket supporting the side-plates 12 with it. The reverse movement of the levers 26 raises the side-plates and compressing mechanism. hen the side-plates have been adjusted in vertical position, the pins 29 are inserted in the bars 27 to hold them in that position. The end-plates 13 are next placed in position and the end bolts 15 are tightened up to draw the side-plates into tight engagement with the end plates. After this the intermediate plates 14: are arranged between the side plates and secured in position by pins 16.

After the adjustment of the form ha been completed, it is filled with the concrete mixture which is heaped up above the top of the form to allow for compression. Two operators then start the compressing means from one end of the machine, each operating one handle in a forward direction and moving along one side of the machine. The turning of the handles 36 rotates the roll 30 and at the same time causes the carriers to travel lengthwise the machine but at a speed much reduced in comparison with the rotation of the roll. The consequence is that the roll in its forward movement presses down the heaped up concrete into the form, and since the surface of the roll is traveling at a much greater speed than the forward movement of the roll, thesurface slides over the concrete and finishes the top surface of the block. This operation is continued until the carriers reach the other end of the machine, when the operation is completed. I have found that blocks can be made in this Way free from holes and seams and of greater density and uniformity than by the old method of tamping, and that the operation of the roller from one end of the machine to the other once is suflicient to secure this result.

When the foregoing operation has been completed and the carriers and roll have reached one end of the machine the pins 16 holding the intermediate plates to the sideplates are removed, the pins 29 then taken out of the bars 27 and the palettes carrying the side-plates are permitted to drop down carrying with them the carriers and roll. The machine is so designed that there is sufficient room at both ends of the machine between the end-plates 18 and the standards 20 to permit the carriers and their mechanism to be dropped downwardly. The dropping of the side-plates and end-plates leaves the molded blocks, with the intermediate plates resting on the palette or palettes and the latter may then be removed, with the molded blocks thereon, from the table 5, and set to one side to permit the blocks to dry and cure, the intermediate plates being removed from between adjacent blocks at this time. New palettes are then placed upon the table, the form is raised to its former position, intermediate plates are installed as before described and the operation of molding the blocks is repeated starting from the other end of the machine and turning the handles in the opposite direction.

It will be observed that by the use of my invention concrete blocks of a great variety of form and size may be molded with comparative rapidity, thereby effecting a large saving over the methods heretofore in use.

lVhat I claim is 1. In a machine for making concrete blocks, the combination of an adjustable form to receive the concrete mixture and means locked to said form for exerting a rolling pressure upon the material to force it into said form.

2. A machine for making concrete blocks comprising an adjustable form open at the top t receive a concrete mixture and a roll movable over the open top of said form for compressing said mixture into said form; said roll being locked against vertical movement away from said form.

3. A machine for making concrete blocks comprising an. adjustable form open at the top to receive a concrete mixture and means adapted to be rolled over the open top of said form for compressing the said mixture into said form to make a concrete block.

4. A machine for making concrete blocks, comprising an adjustable form open at the top to receive a concrete mixture and means for compressing said mixture into said form to form a concrete block, said means being rotatable at a greater speed than its forward speed in order to finish the top surface of said block. 7

5. A machine for making concrete blocks, comprising a suitable form open at the top to receive a concrete mixture, a roll movable over said form for compressing said mixture into said form to make a block and means for rotating said roll at a greater speed than its forward speed in order to finish the top surface of said block.

6. A machine for making concrete blocks comprising an adjustable form open at the top to receive a concrete mixture, means for compressing said mixture into said form to make a concrete block and means for moving said compressingmeans over and in sliding relation to the said mixture in order to finish the top surface of said block.

7. A machine for making concrete blocks comprising an adjustable form made up of two side-plates adjustable in both lateral and vertical directions, with end-plates and a palette of suitable width and means for compressing a concrete mixture in said form to make a concrete block.

8. In a machine for making concrete blocks, the combination with an adjustable form comprising a palette fixed in position, two side-plates adjustable laterally and vertically in relation to said palette, end-plates between said side-plates of means mounted on said side-plates and movable therein for compressing a concrete mixture within said form,

9. In a machine for making concrete blocks. the combination with an adjustable form made up of a fixed palette, two side plates adjustable laterally and'vertically and end-plates between said sideplates of two carriers, one mounted on each side-plate and movable thereon and means carried by said carriers for compressing a concrete mixture within said form.

10. In a machine for making concrete blocks, the combination with an adjustable form made up of a fixed palette, two sideplates adjustable laterally and vertically in relation to said palette and two end-plates of two carriers, one mounted on each side-plate and both movable in unison in either direction along said side-plates, a roll mounted in and between said carriers and means for rotating said roll for com n'essing a concrete mixture into said form.

11. In a machine for making concrete blocks, the combination with an adjustable form made up of a fix d palette. two sideplates adjustable laterally and vertically in relation to said palette and two end-plates of two carriers, one mounted on each side-plate and both movable in unison longitudinally said side-plates in either direction, a roll mounted in and between said carriers and means for turning said roll and for simultaneously moving said carriers along said side-plates.

12. In a machine for making concrete blocks, the combination of a fixed support, a palette removably mounted on said support, a pair of side-plates, laterally adjustable means for supporting said side-plates, means for moving said supporting means vertically in order to adjust said side-plates verti ally with relation to said palette and end-plates.

13. In a machine for making concrete blocks, the combination of a fixed support, a palette removably mounted in said support, a pair of brackets vertically movable, means for adjusting said brackets in vertical position,a pair of side-plates carried by said brackets, said side-plates being laterally movable in said brackets, means for securing said side-plates in lateral adjustment and endplates interposed between said sideplates.

14;; In a machine for making concrete blocks, the combination of a fixed table, a palette of suitable dimensions removably mounted on said table, a pair of side-plates in engagement with the sides of said palette. means for supporting said side-plates, said supporting means being vertically adjustable and said side-plates being laterally adjustable on said supporting means to accommodate palettes of various widths, endplates interposed between said side-plates and means for drawing said side-plates into tight engagement with said end-plates.

In. a machine for making concrete blocks, the combination with a suitable form of means for compressing a concrete mixture within said form to make a block; said means being so arranged that while compressing the mixture, its surface is in sliding engagement therewith in order to finish the exposed surface of said block.

16. In a machine for making concrete blocks, the combination with a suitable form open at the top, of a carrier mechanism, a roll mounted in said carrier mechanism just above the said form for compressing a concrete mixture in said form to mold a block, means for moving the carrier mechanism longitudinally the said form and means for rotating the said roll as the carrier mechanism is moved.

17. In a machine for making concrete blocks, the combination with a suitable form open at the top of a carrier mechanism, a

roll carried by said mechanism and located above said formwith clearance space only between it and said form, said roll when moved over said form being adapted to compress a concrete mixture into said form to mold a block, means for rotating said roll and for moving said carrier mechanism longitudinally the said form.

'18. In a machine for making concrete blocks, the combination with a suitable form open at the top of a carrier mechanism mounted on said form, a roll carried by said said carrier longitudinally said form.

20. In a machine for making concrete blocks, the combinatlon of an ad ustable form open at the top, a carrier mechanism locked 011 said form against vertical moveu ment in relation to said form, a roll mounted in said carrier mechanism and means for simultaneously rotating said roll and moving said carrier mechanism along said form in a longitudinal direction.

21. In a machine for making concrete blocks, the combination of an adjustable form open at the top a rack on each side of said form, a carrier mechanism mounted on said form and having a gear on each side in engagement with one of said racks, a roll mounted on said carrier mechanism for compressing a concrete mixture within said form, and a plurality of gears for simultaneously turning said roll and moving said carrier mechanism longitudinally said form in either direction.

22. A machine for making concrete blocks comprising a form having two side plates adjustable to and from each other, a support upon which said side plates are mounted, said support being vertically adjustable, a rack mounted on the outer side of each of said side plates, a carrier mechanism having gears in mesh with said two racks, a roll mounted on said carrier mechanism for compressing a concrete mixture within said form and means whereby the rotation of said roll causes said carrier mechanism to move longitudinally said form in either direction.

28. In a machine for making concrete blocks, the combination with a suitable form of a roll for compressing a concrete mixture within said form means for supporting said roll in operative position; said means being locked against vertical movement in relation to said form, means for rotating said roll, and means for causing said roll to travel longitudinally said form in either direction at the will of the operator.

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of June, 1920.

TI-IEODOR E. I-IOENEMANN. 

